From October 7-9, 2024 Deputy Chairman of the Committee, F. Karabaev, visited the Directorate-General for Competition of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium. During this visit, he held a series of working meetings with Ms. Linsey McCallum, Deputy Director-General for Antitrust and Digital Platforms, and Ms. Inge Bernaerts, Head of the Competition Policy and Strategy Unit.
The discussions highlighted the Committee’s recent structural reforms and accomplishments, initiated under the leadership of Uzbekistan’s government, to promote competition, reduce state involvement in the economy, and establish a level playing field for all market participants. The focus was also on enhancing the legal framework governing competition policy to ensure full alignment with international best practices.
The Committee’s representative further participated in an international seminar on EU competition law and policy, met with Dr. Bernd Meyring, President of the Global Competition Law Center at the College of Europe, and engaged with members of the EuroUz Association’s Intellectual Property and Competition Committee, which facilitates economic cooperation between the EU and Uzbekistan.
Key initiatives discussed included the establishment of a consultation mechanism for antitrust regulation of digital platforms, expanding the Committee’s engagement in the International Competition Network, organizing a three-month internship for Committee staff at the Directorate-General, and conducting specialized academic training programs for students at Uzbek universities that offer coursework in competition policy and law.
As a result of these discussions, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Committee and the Association. Under the terms of the Memorandum, the Association will support the Committee in strengthening its cooperation with the European Commission, removing barriers for EU businesses operating in Uzbekistan, and implementing a permanent consultation framework to facilitate increased investment inflows into the country.
